Solar panel float and connected member thereof

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a solar panel float in which an increase in the number of components is prevented and which is easy to assemble. A float for mounting a solar panel is provided with: an annular float portion; a first support portion that supports an edge on one side of the solar panel; and a second support portion that supports an edge on the other side of the solar panel. The first support portion includes a first support plate portion rising from a wall surface on one side of an inner periphery of the annular float portion. The first support plate portion is formed of a cut-and-raised piece that has been cut and raised, from a flat plate portion integrally formed so as to close the inner periphery during molding of the annular float portion, using a lower-side portion of the flat plate portion as a bending-fulcrum point.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/311,236 filed onNov. 15, 2016, which is a U.S. national phase application under 35U.S.C. § 371 of International Patent Application No. PCT/JP2015/061729,filed on Apr. 16, 2015, and claims benefit of priority to JapanesePatent Application Nos. 2014-102176, filed May 16, 2014 and 2014-102178,filed May 16, 2014. The entire contents of these applications are herebyincorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a solar panel float and a solar panelfloat connected member.

BACKGROUND

For solar power generation by which sunlight is converted into electricpower, solar panels (which may also be referred to as solar batterypanels or solar battery modules) are used. Solar panels have been mostlyinstalled on the roofs or wall surfaces of buildings, or on the ground,for example. However, recent years have seen attempts to install thesolar panels on the water, such as on the surface of idled ponds orlakes.

The water-floating solar panel requires a float to keep the solar panelafloat. The float may preferably be a hollow molded body made oflightweight and highly durable synthetic resin (for example, a moldedbody manufactured by blow molding). Conventionally, as a hollow moldedbody that floats on the water, a float described in Korean Patent No.10-0909404 is known.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating the basic configuration of the floataccording to Korean Patent No. 10-0909404. The float 100 is providedwith a synthetic resin body 101 that has an internal space portion. Thebody 101 is molded into a hollow cube by blow molding. On four cornersof the body 101, connector portions 102 are formed so as to protrudeoutward. The connector portions 102 have through holes 103 formedtherein. When a plurality of floats 100 are connected, the connectorportions 102 and the through holes 103 of the floats 100 are verticallyoverlapped with each other. Into the multiple through holes 103, pins105 are inserted from above, whereby the plurality of connector portions102 are connected.

Generally, it is difficult to integrally form complex structures forsupporting the solar panel by a hollow molding method, such as blowmolding. Accordingly, when the float 100 according to Korean Patent No.10-0909404 is to be utilized as a solar panel float, for example, it isnecessary to mount components that have been separately manufacturedfrom the body 101 to support the solar panel. As a result, the number ofcomponents increases, leading to an increase in component cost. Inaddition, because of the increase in the number of components, assemblyworkability is low.

When the float 100 according to Korean Patent No. 10-0909404 is to beutilized as a solar panel float, a ship or the like will be required atthe time of installing or checking the float. Accordingly, theinstallation or checking becomes extremely difficult. In addition, theinstallation or checking, which is performed aboard the float 100,involves the problem of having to increase the size of the float 100with respect to the solar panel beyond a required size.

SUMMARY

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances.An object of the present invention is to provide a solar panel floatwhich, by a configuration utilizing a portion integrally formed in ahollow molded body and being capable of supporting a solar panel, canprevent an increase in the number of components, and which is easy toassemble.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances.An object of the present invention is to provide a solar panel floatconnected member which enables easy installation and checking whenfloats with solar panels mounted thereon are mutually connected adjacentto each other, despite that the floats have an efficient size withrespect to the solar panels.

The present invention is understood as follows.

(1) A solar panel mounting float according to a first aspect of thepresent invention includes: a hollow-molded annular float portion madeof synthetic resin; a first support portion supporting an edge on oneside of the solar panel; and a second support portion supporting an edgeon another side of the solar panel. The first support portion includes afirst support plate portion rising from a wall surface on one side of aninner periphery of the annular float portion. The first support plateportion is formed by a cut-and-raised piece cut and raised, from a flatplate portion integrally formed so as to close the inner peripheryduring molding of the annular float portion, using a lower-side portionof the flat plate portion as a bending-fulcrum point.

(2) In the solar panel float according to (1), the first support portionmay have a height greater than a height of the second support portion soas to enable the solar panel to be supported with an inclination withrespect to the annular float portion.

(3) In the solar panel float according to (1) or (2), the second supportportion may include a second support plate portion rising from a wallsurface on another side of the inner periphery of the annular floatportion. The second support plate portion may be formed by acut-and-raised piece cut and raised, from a flat plate portionintegrally formed so as to close the inner periphery during molding ofthe annular float portion, using a lower-side portion of the flat plateportion as a bending-fulcrum point.

(4) In the solar panel float according to any one of (1) to (3), theannular float portion may include, on the inner periphery, an engagingportion for retaining an upright state of the first support plateportion by engaging a lateral-side portion of the first support plateportion.

(5) In the solar panel float according to (3) or (4), the annular floatportion may include, on the inner periphery, an engaging portion forretaining an upright state of the second support plate portion byengaging a lateral-side portion of the second support plate portion.

(6) The solar panel float according to any one of (1) to (5), furtherincludes a first mounting member interposed between an upper portion ofthe first support plate portion and the edge on one side of the solarpanel, and configured to enable mounting of the edge on one side of thesolar panel. The first mounting member may have a greater width than awidth of the upper portion of the first support plate portion.

(7) The solar panel float according to (6), the first mounting membermay include a fitting groove portion configured to fit the edge on oneside of the solar panel.

(8) The solar panel float according to any one of (3) to (7), furtherincludes a second mounting member interposed between an upper portion ofthe second support plate portion and the edge on the other side of thesolar panel, and configured to enable mounting of the edge on the otherside of the solar panel. The second mounting member may have a greaterwidth than a width of the upper portion of the second support plateportion.

(9) In the solar panel float according to (8), the second mountingmember may include a fitting groove portion configured to fit the edgeon the other side of the solar panel.

(10) In the solar panel float according to (1) or (2), the secondsupport portion may be formed by a groove formed in the annular floatportion and engaging the edge on the other side of the solar panel.

(11) In the solar panel float according to (1) or (2), the secondsupport portion may be formed by a step portion formed in the annularfloat portion and engaging the edge on the other side of the solarpanel.

(12) A solar panel float connected member according to a second aspectof the present invention includes: a plurality of the solar panelsfloats according to any one of (1) to (11); and a rectangular solarpanel mounted on each of the floats and having long sides and shortsides. The solar panels are disposed adjacent to each other via theshort sides thereof and adjacent to each other having a gap via the longsides thereof. The gap of the solar panels on the floats is formed as apassageway portion.

(13) In the solar panel float connected member according to (12), thepassageway portion may be formed as a protrusion extending beyond atleast one of the long sides of the solar panels of the floats.

(14) In the solar panel float connected member according to (12) or(13), the floats may be connected to other floats on the short sides ofthe solar panel via a connector member over the passageway portion.

(15) In the solar panel float connected member according to (14), theconnector member may include a hollow portion.

(16) In the solar panel float connected member according to (14) or(15), the connector member may have a thickness such that at least apart of the connector member is submerged when the float is floated onthe water.

According to the present invention, the solar panel can be supportedusing the support plate portion formed integrally with the annular floatportion. Accordingly, an increase in the number of components can beprevented, whereby an easy-to-assemble solar panel float can beprovided.

The solar panel float connected member configured as described abovemakes it possible to perform installation or checking easily when thefloats with the solar panels mounted thereon are mutually connectedadjacent to each other, despite that the floats have an efficient sizewith respect to the solar panels.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a solar panel float according to thefirst example of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the solar panel float.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a plurality of solar panels floats (solar panelfloat connected members) that are connected.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a solar panel float.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 4.

FIGS. 6(a)-6(b) show a diagram illustrating a method for assemblingfirst and second support plate portions according to the first example.FIG. 6(a) shows a plan view of a hollow molded body, and FIG. 6(b) showsa cross sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG. 6(a) andillustrating a method for cutting and raising the first and secondsupport plate portions.

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view taken along line C-C of FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is a front view of the solar panel float, viewed along arrow D ofFIG. 4.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of portion E in FIG. 5.

FIG. 10 is a side view of the solar panel float, viewed along arrow F inFIG. 4.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of a connector member according to the firstexample.

FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view taken along line G-G of FIG. 3.

FIGS. 13(a)-13(b) show a configuration diagram of the solar panel floataccording to the second example of the present invention. FIG. 13(a)shows a plan view, FIG. 13(b) shows a cross sectional view along lineb-b of FIG. 13(a), and FIG. 13(c) shows an enlarged view in a circularframe of FIG. 13(b).

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the solar panel float according to thethird example of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a view along arrow Q of FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a cross sectional view illustrating a modification of aconnector portion connecting a plurality of solar panels floats.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of conventional floats.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following, modes (hereafter referred to as “examples”) ofcarrying out the present invention will be described with reference tothe attached drawings. Throughout the description of the examples,similar elements are denoted with similar numerals. In the examples anddrawing figures, “front” indicates the “depth” direction when aninclined solar panel is viewed from the front in a horizontal direction;“rear” indicates the “forward” direction; and “left” and “right”indicates the directions of “left” and the “right”, when the inclinedsolar panel is viewed from the front side in a horizontal direction.

FIRST EXAMPLE

(Overall Configuration of Solar Panel Float 10)

An overall configuration of a solar panel float 10 will be describedwith reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the solar panel float 10 according to thefirst example is a float for installing a substantially quadrangular(or, in the present example, substantially square) solar panel 11 onwater, such as a pond or a lake. With the solar panel float 10, thesolar panel 11 is installed on the water so as to be inclined withrespect to the horizontal direction. An inclination angle θ of the solarpanel 11 is set to an angle most suitable for power generation,depending on the area and the like.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the solar panel float 10 is provided with asynthetic-resin float body 20 molded in a hollow shape. The float body20 is manufactured by, for example, blow molding whereby a moltentubular parison sandwiched between a plurality of split mold blocks isexpanded. For the molding material, various synthetic resins can beused. Examples of the synthetic resin that can be used includepolyolefin-based resins, such as polyethylene and polypropylene.

The float body 20 has a layer structure which includes an upper wall 13and a lower wall 15 opposing each other via a hollow portion 12. Theupper wall 13 and the lower wall 15 are welded at a parting line PL.Thus, the hollow portion 12 provides a closed space.

The manufacturing of the float body 20 is not particularly limited toblow molding. For example, instead of the tubular parison, hermeticspaces between two molten sheets disposed between the pair of split moldblocks and the split mold blocks may be suctioned. In this way, a floatbody including a hollow portion between the two sheets can bemanufactured. In the case of such molding method, a foamed material andthe like can be easily placed between the two sheets as a core material.Accordingly, a float body with higher rigidity can be obtained.

The float body 20 is provided with an annular float portion 30, a firstsupport portion including a first support plate portion 40, and a secondsupport portion including a second support plate portion 50. The firstsupport plate portion 40 is formed inside the annular float portion 30to support the solar panel 11, and has a substantially quadrangularshape (in the present example, a substantially rectangular shape longerin the right-left direction). The solar panel float 10 is furtherprovided with a first mounting member 60 and a second mounting member 70to which the solar panel 11 can be mounted.

By arranging a plurality of solar panels floats 10 in the front-reardirection and the right-left direction on the water, a plurality ofsolar panels 11 can be installed closely (see FIG. 3). Two of the solarpanel floats 10 that are adjacent to each other in the front-reardirection are fastened by means of female screw members 80 and malescrew members 81. On the other hand, two of the solar panel floats 10that are adjacent to each other in the right-left direction areconnected via connector members 90 that are jointly fastened by means ofthe male screw members 81 and the female screw members 80. The solarpanel floats 10 can be made to stay at certain locations on the waterusing anchors (not illustrated).

(Configuration of Annular Float Portion 30)

The configuration of the annular float portion 30 will be described withreference to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the annularfloat portion 30 is formed in a substantially quadrangular shape (in thepresent example, a substantially rectangular shape longer in thefront-rear direction) as viewed in plan. In the annular float portion30, along a front side portion and a rear side portion thereof, a frontconnector portion 31 and a rear connector portion 32 are integrallyformed, respectively. The annular float portion 30 has an innerperiphery 30 a which includes a front opening portion 33 and a rearopening portion 35 that are arranged in the front-rear direction.Between the front opening portion 33 and the rear opening portion 35, aflat plate portion 37 connecting right and left side wall surfaces 36 isformed. The front opening portion 33 and the rear opening portion 35 areopenings formed by cutting and raising the first support plate portion40 and the second support plate portion 50, respectively.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the front connector portion 31 is a thin plateportion eccentrically located on the upper side. The front connectorportion 31 is formed so as to occupy approximately one half the basicthickness of the annular float portion 30. At substantially the centeron the back surface of the front connector portion 31, a fitting opening31 a recessed on the upper side is formed.

Referring back to FIG. 4, the front connector portion 31 includes rightand left front corner portions 31 b which are compression-moldedportions formed even thinner than the basic thickness of the frontconnector portion 31. The front corner portions 31 b have front throughholes 31 c formed vertically penetrating therethrough. In addition, inthe vicinity of the rear of the front through holes 31 c, engagingrecesses 31 d for engaging the connector members 90 (see FIG. 2) areformed.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the rear connector portion 32, which is a thinplate portion eccentrically located on the lower side, is formed so asto occupy approximately half the basic thickness of the annular floatportion 30. At substantially the center on the upper surface of the rearconnector portion 32, a protrusion 32 a protruding on the upper side isformed. The protrusion 32 a is fitted in the fitting opening 31 a ofanother solar panel float 10 adjacently disposed on the front side. Inthis state, the rear connector portion 32 is overlapped on the lowerside of the front connector portion 31 of another solar panel float 10.

Referring back to FIG. 4, the rear connector portion 32 includes rightand left rear corner portions 32 b which are compression-molded portionsformed even thinner than the basic thickness of the rear connectorportion 32. The rear corner portions 32 b have rear through holes 32 cformed vertically penetrating therethrough. To the rear through holes 32c, the female screw members 80 are attached.

At the front end portions of the right and left side wall surfaces 36,protruding front engaging portions 36 f for retaining an upright stateof the first support plate portion 40. At the rear end portions of theright and left side wall surfaces 36, protruding rear engaging portions36 r for retaining an upright state of the second support plate portion50 are formed.

The float body 20 may be provided with reinforcing recessed ribs 21 atvarious parts thereof as needed. The recessed ribs 21 may have anydesired form. For example, the form may be selected from various formsincluding a grooved or cylindrically (including a substantiallycylindrical shape and a substantially truncated-conical shape) recessedform; and a form obtained by welding recessed tip-end faces of theopposing surfaces of the upper wall 13 and the lower wall 15.

(Configuration of the First Support Plate Portion 40 and the SecondSupport Plate Portion 50)

The configuration of the first support plate portion 40 and the secondsupport plate portion 50 will be described with reference to FIG. 5.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the first support plate portion 40 has alower-side portion 41 integrally formed therewith on a front wallsurface 38 f of the front opening portion 33. Meanwhile, the firstsupport plate portion 40 rises along the front wall surface 38 f. Thefirst support plate portion 40 has lateral-side portions 42 which areengaged with the front edges of front engaging portions 36 f. By beingsandwiched between the front engaging portions 36 f and the front wallsurface 38 f, the upright state of the first support plate portion 40 isretained. In addition, the height H1 of the first support plate portion40 is set to be greater than the height H2 of the second support plateportion 50. The first support plate portion 40 supports, at an upperportion 43 thereof, an upper-edge portion 11 u of the solar panel 11 viaa first mounting member 60.

The second support plate portion 50 has a lower-side portion 51integrally formed therewith on a rear wall surface 38 r of the rearopening portion 35. Meanwhile, the second support plate portion 50 risesalong the rear wall surface 38 r. The second support plate portion 50includes lateral-side portions 52 which are engaged with rear edges ofthe rear engaging portions 36 r. By being sandwiched between the rearengaging portions 36 r and the rear wall surface 38 r, an upright stateof the second support plate portion 50 is retained. The second supportplate portion 50 supports, at an upper portion 53 thereof, a lower-edgeportion 11 d of the solar panel 11 via a second mounting member 70. Inthe illustrated example, the first support plate portion 40 and thesecond support plate portion 50 have the same width W2 (see FIG. 4).However, the first support plate portion 40 and the second support plateportion 50 may be formed so as to have different widths from each other.

(Method for Assembling the First Support Plate Portion 40 and The SecondSupport Plate Portion 50)

A method for assembling the first support plate portion 40 and thesecond support plate portion 50 will be described with reference toFIGS. 6(a)-6(b).

The assembly method includes a step (A) of preparing a hollow moldedbody 20A of the float body 20; a cutting step (B) of partially cuttingthe hollow molded body 20A; and a bending step (C) of raising theportion cut.

In step (A), as illustrated in FIG. 6(a), the hollow molded body 20A isprepared. The hollow molded body 20A can be obtained, at the time ofblow molding of the float body 20, by integrally forming a substantiallyquadrangular flat plate portion 22A with the inner periphery 30 a of theannular float portion 30. The flat plate portion 22A is set on theparting line PL (see FIG. 2) of the inner periphery 30 a so as to closethe inner periphery 30 a. In the flat plate portion 22A, annular crushedportions (indicated schematically by dot-dash lines) 23 corresponding tothe outline of the first support plate portion 40 and the second supportplate portion 50 are formed. The crushed portions 23 are portions formedby the welding and compression-molding of the upper wall 13 and thelower wall 15. The crushed portions 23 are formed to be thinner than theother portions.

In step (B), as illustrated in FIG. 6(b), three side portions of thecrushed portions 23 are cut using a cutting blade or the like, leavingthe portions corresponding to the lower-side portions 41 and 51respectively of the first support plate portion 40 and the secondsupport plate portion 50. By thus cutting the crushed portions 23, thecontours of the above-described front opening portion 33, rear openingportion 35, and flat plate portion 37 (see FIG. 4) are formed.

In step (C), by causing the linear portions that are to provide thelower-side portions 41 and 51 to function as hinges, cut-and-raisedpieces 25 and 26 are raised upward from the flat plate portion 22A,using the linear portions as bending-fulcrum points. Then, the firstsupport plate portion 40 and the second support plate portion 50including the cut-and-raised pieces 25 and 26 are further turned upward,and pressed onto the front wall surface 38 f and the rear wall surface38 r, respectively. In this case, the lateral-side portions 42 of thefirst support plate portion 40, and the lateral-side portions 52 of thesecond support plate portion 50 are moved across the front engagingportions 36 f and the rear engaging portions 36 r, respectively. As aresult, the upright state of the first support plate portion 40 and thesecond support plate portion 50 with respect to the annular floatportion 30 is retained (temporarily fixed).

(Configuration of First Mounting Member 60)

The configuration of the first mounting member 60 will be described withreference to FIG. 7. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the first mounting member60 is a member interposed between the upper portion 43 of the firstsupport plate portion 40 and the upper-edge portion 11 u of the solarpanel 11 (see FIG. 2). The first mounting member 60 includes a fittinggroove portion 61 extending in the right-left direction and opened onthe rear side. Into the fitting groove portion 61, the upper-edgeportion 11 u of the solar panel 11 (see FIG. 2) can be fitted.

The width W1 of the first mounting member 60 is set to be greater thanthe width W2 of the upper portion 43 of the first support plate portion40. In the present example, the width W1 of the first mounting member 60is set to be approximately the same as, or slightly smaller than, thewidth WS of the upper-edge portion 11 u of the solar panel 11 (see FIG.2). As the material of the first mounting member 60, various materialsmay be used, such as synthetic resin.

On a front portion and a rear portion of the upper end of the firstmounting member 60, protrusions 65 and a recess 66, respectively, arealternately formed in the right-left direction. The protrusions 65 onthe front side and the recess 66 on the rear side are opposed to eachother in the front-rear direction. On the other hand, in the upperportion 43 of the first support plate portion 40, a protrusion 45 andrecesses 46 to be interlocked with the protrusions 65 and the recess 66of the first mounting member 60 are formed. Thus, the protrusions 65 andthe recess 66 can be interlocked with the protrusion 45 and the recesses46. Accordingly, the first mounting member 60 is attached to the firstsupport plate portion 40 in such a way as to sandwich the upper portion43 of the first support plate portion 40 from the front and reardirections, and to prevent its own movement in the right-left direction.In addition, in the present example, the first mounting member 60 isattached such that its center position in the right-left direction isaligned with respect to the first support plate portion 40.

(Configuration of Second Mounting Member 70)

The configuration of the second mounting member 70 will be describedwith reference to FIG. 8. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the second mountingmember 70 is a member interposed between the upper portion 53 of thesecond support plate portion 50 and the lower-edge portion 11 d of thesolar panel 11(see FIG. 2). The second mounting member 70 includes afitting groove portion 71 extending in the right-left direction andopened on the front side. Into the fitting groove portion 71, thelower-edge portion 11 d of the solar panel 11 (see FIG. 2) can befitted.

The width W1 of the second mounting member 70 is set to be greater thanthe width W2 of the upper portion 53 of the second support plate portion50. In the present example, the width W1 of the second mounting member70 is set to be approximately the same as, or slightly smaller than, thewidth WS of the lower-edge portion 11 d of the solar panel 11 (see FIG.2). For the material of the second mounting member 70, variousmaterials, such as synthetic resin, may be used. In the present example,the first mounting member 60 and the second mounting member 70 areformed to have the same width W1. However, the first mounting member 60and the second mounting member 70 may be formed to have differentwidths.

On a front portion and a rear portion of the upper end of the secondmounting member 70, a protrusion 75 and recesses 76, respectively, arealternately formed in the right-left direction. The protrusion 75 on thefront side and the recesses 76 on the rear side are opposed to eachother in the front-rear direction. On the other hand, on the upperportion 53 of the second support plate portion 50, protrusions 55 and arecess 56 to be interlocked with the protrusion 75 and the recesses 76of the second mounting member 70 are formed. Thus, the protrusion 75 andthe recesses 76 are interlocked with the protrusions 55 and recess 56.Accordingly, the second mounting member 70 is attached to the secondsupport plate portion 50 in such a way as to sandwich the upper portion53 of the second support plate portion 50 from the front and reardirections, and to prevent its own movement in the right-left direction.In addition, in the present example, the second mounting member 70 isattached with its center position in the right-left direction alignedwith respect to the second support plate portion 50.

The first mounting member 60 and the second mounting member 70 may beformed in the same shape or different shapes. When formed in the sameshape, the same components may be used for the first mounting member 60and the second mounting member 70. Accordingly, the molds and the likecan be shared, whereby the component cost of the first mounting member60 and the second mounting member 70 can be reduced.

(Mount Structure for Solar Panel 11)

An example of the mount structure for the solar panel 11 will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 9 and FIG. 10. As illustrated in FIG.9, for example, the upper-edge portion 11 u of the solar panel 11 isfitted by inserting a frame 11 a (for example, an aluminum frame)portion disposed on the outer periphery of the solar panel 11 into thefitting groove portion 61, which may have a substantially U-shaped crosssection, of the first mounting member 60. From the front side of thefirst mounting member 60, the frame 11 a and the first mounting member60 are fastened by means of a male screw member 16, such as bolts. Thefitting groove portion 61 may be formed to be open toward therear-bottom, in accordance with the inclination angle θ (see FIG. 10) ofthe solar panel 11.

FIG. 9 is an example of the mount structure for the first mountingmember 60. The mount structure may similarly be applied to the fittinggroove portion 71 of the second mounting member 70. In this case, forexample, the fitting groove portion 71 with the substantially U-shapedcross section may be formed to be open toward the front-top.

(Configuration of Connector Member 90)

The configuration of the connector member 90 will be described withreference to FIG. 11 and FIG. 12. As illustrated in FIG. 11, theconnector member 90 is a board-like member with a substantiallyquadrangular (in the present example, substantially square) shape asviewed in plan. In the right and left corners on the front side of theconnector members 90, screw insertion openings 91 are formed. To therear of the right and left screw insertion openings 91, bent portions 92bent downward are formed. The material of the connector members 90 maybe selected from various materials. However, from the viewpoint ofweight and productivity, synthetic resin is preferable.

As illustrated in FIG. 12, the connector member 90 is disposed so as tostraddle between two solar panel floats 10 that are adjacent to eachother in the right-left direction. The right and left bent portions 92of the connector member 90 are fitted into the engaging recesses 31 dfrom above. In addition, the connector member 90 is jointly fastened tothe respective front corner portions 31 b (see FIG. 4) of the two solarpanel float 10, by means of the male screw members 81 (see FIG. 2) andthe female screw members 80 (see FIG. 2) respectively inserted into theright and left screw insertion openings 91 (see FIG. 11). In this way,the two solar panel floats 10 adjacent to each other in the right-leftdirection can be strongly connected by means of the connector member 90.The connector member 90, as will be described later, is configured to bemounted on a passageway portion required for human installation orchecking. In addition, two solar panel floats 10 which are adjacent toeach other in the front-rear direction can be connected by means of themale screw members 81 (see FIG. 2), inserted into the rear through holes32 c and the front through holes 31 c, and the female screw members 80(see FIG. 2), with the front through holes (see FIG. 4) of the othersolar panel float 10 adjacent to the rear being overlapped on the upperend of the rear through holes 32 c (see FIG. 4). Between the screwinsertion openings 91 (see FIG. 11) and the head of the male screwmembers 81 (see FIG. 2), bushing 93 (see FIG. 2) may be interposed.

FIG. 16 illustrates a modification of the connector member 90. FIG. 16is drawn in a manner corresponding to FIG. 12. The connector member 90′illustrated in FIG. 16, compared with the case of FIG. 12, is configuredto provide a float function by including a hollow portion 90A. Theconnector member 90′ may be manufactured by blow molding whereby, forexample, a molten tubular parison sandwiched between a plurality ofsplit mold blocks is expanded.

That is, the connector member 90′ is provided with the hollow portion90A at the center portion apart from the peripheral bent portions 92that are fitted in the engaging recesses 31 d the adjacent two solarpanel floats 10. When the solar panel float 10 is floated on the water,a part of the hollow portion 90A is immersed in water, together with thesolar panel float 10. In this way, the hollow portion 90A is configuredto receive buoyancy. Accordingly, the connector member 90 is formed witha thickness T such that at least a part of the connector member isimmersed in water when the solar panel float 10 is floated on the water.

Thus, the solar panel floats 10 connected by the connector member 90′can be stably located on the water.

(Solar Panel Float Connected Member 80′)

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a solar panel float connected members 80′formed by a plurality of the above-described solar panel floats 10disposed adjacent to each other in the front-rear direction and theright-left direction. In this way, the solar panels 11 mounted on therespective solar panel floats 10 are disposed adjacent to each other viatheir short sides 11S, with a gap GP between their long sides 11L. Inthe gap GP between the long sides 11L of the solar panels 11, the frontconnector portion 31 of one solar panel float 10 and the rear connectorportion 32 of the other solar panel float 10 that are arranged in thefront-rear direction (the direction along of the short sides 11S of thesolar panel 11) are exposed. This arrangement is due to the protrusions,in the front connector portion 31 and the rear connector portion 32, ofthe solar panel floats 10 extending beyond the long sides 11L of thesolar panels 11.

In this case, as described above, the gap between the front connectorportion 31 of one solar panel float 10 and the front connector portion31 of the other solar panel float 10 which are arranged in theright-left direction (direction along the long sides 11L of the solarpanel 11) are bridged by the connector members 90 functioning as abridge board. Accordingly, the gap GP of the solar panels 11 on therespective solar panel floats 10 can be configured as the passagewayportion on which a person can move freely in the right-left direction.Thus, installation and checking can be easily performed.

The solar panel float connected members 80′ configured as describedabove provides the effect that, compared with a connected member suchthat the solar panels 11 are disposed with their long sides 11L alignedwith the front-rear direction in the drawing, for example, the size ofthe solar panel floats 10 can be made an efficient size with respect tothe solar panels 11. That is, if the solar panels 11 were to be disposedwith their long sides 11L aligned with the front-rear direction in thedrawing, the gap between the long sides 11L of the solar panels 11 wouldbe a passageway portion. However, such passageway portion would have anarrow width. As a result, in order to avoid this, the width of each ofthe solar panel floats 10 in the right-left direction would have to beincreased more than is necessary.

(Effect of First Example)

The effects of the first example will be described. According to thefirst example, the solar panel 11 can be supported by the first supportplate portion 40 and the second support plate portion 50 which areintegrally formed with the annular float portion 30. Accordingly, afloat which is formed from a lightweight and tough hollow molded body,and which also has a solar panel 11 support function can be obtained ina single hollow molding (such as blow molding) procedure. Thus, anincrease in the number of components can be prevented. In addition, thesolar panel float 10 can be easily assembled by simply cutting andraising the first support plate portion 40 and the second support plateportion 50.

By setting the height H1 of the first support plate portion 40 to begreater than the height H2 of the second support plate portion 50, thesolar panel 11 can be supported as inclined. In this way, the inclinedsolar panel 11 can be installed on the water.

By having the first support plate portion 40 and the second supportplate portion 50 respectively engaged with the front engaging portions36 f and the rear engaging portions 36 r, the first support plateportion 40 and the second support plate portion 50 can be temporarilyfixed in the upright state until the solar panel 11 is mounted. In thisway, the need for supporting the first support plate portion 40 and thesecond support plate portion 50 so as not to fall can be eliminated,whereby the assembly operation can be made even easier.

In addition, according to the first example, between the first supportplate portion 40 and second support plate portion 50 and the solar panel11, the first mounting member 60 and the second mounting member 70 areinterposed. The width W1 of the first mounting member 60 and the secondmounting member 70 is set to be greater than the width W2 of the firstsupport plate portion 40 and the second support plate portion 50.

It is possible to mount the upper-edge portion 11 u and the lower-edgeportion 11 d of the solar panel 11 to the upper portion 43 of the firstsupport plate portion 40 and the upper portion 53 of the second supportplate portion 50 directly without interposing the mounting members.However, in this case, in order to stably support the solar panel 11,the width W2 of the first support plate portion 40 and the secondsupport plate portion 50 needs to be increased in accordance with thewidth WS of the upper-edge portion 11 u and the lower-edge portion 11 dof the solar panel 11. Meanwhile, the width of the annular float portion30 is limited by the width of the solar panel 11 installed. Thus, it isdifficult to increase the width of the annular float portion 30 morethan is necessary. Accordingly, if a wide width is ensured for the widthW2 of the first support plate portion 40 and the second support plateportion 50, the volume of the right and left side portions of theannular float portion 30 is that much necessarily decreased. As aresult, the volume of the annular float portion 30 as a whole isdecreased, whereby the buoyancy acting on the annular float portion 30is decreased.

In this respect, according to the first example, by means of the firstmounting member 60 and the second mounting member 70 extending in theright-left direction in accordance with the width WS of the solar panel11, the upper-edge portion 11 u and the lower-edge portion 11 d of thesolar panel 11 can be stably attached. Accordingly, the need to increasethe width W2 of the first support plate portion 40 and the secondsupport plate portion 50 in accordance with the width WS of the solarpanel 11 is eliminated. Thus, a large width can be ensured for the rightand left side portions of the annular float portion 30, increasing thebuoyancy acting on the annular float portion 30. Accordingly, the solarpanel 11 can be more stably installed on the water.

In addition, the first example has adopted the connection structure inwhich the female screw members 80 are assembled to the rear throughholes 32 c in advance by a fall-preventing portion 89. Accordingly, whenthe front connector portion 31 of the other solar panel float 10 isoverlapped on the upper side of the rear connector portion 32 andfastened using the male screw members 81, the female screw members 80are prevented from falling when the male screw members 81 are screwedinto the female screw members 80. Accordingly, during the operation toconnect a plurality of solar panels floats 10, there is no need to keeppushing the female screw members 80 on the back of the rear connectorportion 32 when the male screw members 81 are screwed. Accordingly, theconnection operation for a plurality of solar panels floats 10 can besimply performed even on the water.

The female screw members 80 including the fall-preventing portion 89 canbe obtained by a simple configuration including a deforming portion 89 band a hook portion 89 c formed in the deforming portion 89 b.

In addition, when the male screw members 81 are screwed into the femalescrew members 80, rotation (so-called co-rotation) of the female screwmembers 80 can be prevented by the engagement of a rotation-preventingprotrusion 86 b and an engaging-groove portion 83. Accordingly, theconnection operation for a plurality of solar panels floats 10 can bemore simply performed.

When the solar panel floats 10 are configured as the solar panel floatconnected members 80′, the size of each of the solar panel floats 10 canbe made an efficient size with respect to the solar panel 11.

SECOND EXAMPLE

FIGS. 13(a)-13(c) show a configuration diagram illustrating the secondexample of the solar panel float according to the present invention.FIG. 13(a) is a plan view; FIG. 13(b) is a cross sectional view alongline b - b of FIG. 13(a); and FIG. 13(c) is an enlarged view within thecircular frame P of FIG. 13(b). FIG. 13(a) is drawn in a mannercorresponding to FIG. 4. FIG. 13(b) is drawn in a manner correspondingto FIG. 5. Corresponding portions are denoted with similar signs.

In FIGS. 13(a) and 13(b), the difference is that the second supportportion is not formed by the second support plate portion (denoted bysign 50 in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5), but by grooves 80″ formed in the annularfloat portion 30. Thus, only the first support portion has a supportplate portion (the first support plate portion 40) formed. The annularfloat portion 30 includes a single opening portion 34 as a reflection ofthe formation of the first support plate portion 40. The grooves 80″ asthe second support portion, as illustrated in FIG. 13(c), is formed inthe upper wall 13 of the annular float portion 30 with an inclination ofan angle θ with respect to the annular float portion 30, and with anopening facing the first support plate portion 40. Accordingly, asillustrated in FIG. 13(b), the edge on one side is supported by thefirst support plate portion 40 with the other edge being locked in thegrooves 80″ as the second support portion, the solar panel 11 can bedisposed at an inclination of the angle θ with respect to the annularfloat portion 30.

The solar panel float 10 configured as described above can providesimilar effects to those of the solar panel float 10 according to thefirst example, in spite of a simple configuration. The second examplehas been described focusing on portions that are greatly differentcompared with the first example. Accordingly, the reinforcing recessedribs 21, the first mounting member 60 and the like, described withreference to the first example, may of course be mounted as needed.

THIRD EXAMPLE

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the third example of the solar panelfloat according to the present invention. FIG. 15 is a view along arrowQ of FIG. 14.

As illustrated in FIG. 14, in the third example, the second supportportion is not formed by the second support plate portion (indicated atsign 50 in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5), and the second support portion is formedby a step portion 102 formed in the annular float portion 30. Thus, inthis case, too, as in the second example described above, the supportplate portion (the first support plate portion 40) is formed only in thefirst support portion. The annular float portion 30 includes a singleopening portion 34 as a reflection of the formation of first supportplate portion 40.

As illustrated in FIG. 15, the step portion 102 as the second supportportion is formed so as to have an inclination angle θ with respect tothe vertical direction, and to oppose the first support plate portion 40(see FIG. 14). Accordingly, the solar panel 11, by having a first edgethereof being supported by the first support plate portion 40 (see FIG.14) and a second edge thereof (lower-edge portion 11 d) being locked onthe step portion 102 as the second support portion, can be disposed atthe inclination angle θ with respect to the annular float portion 30.

In the third example too, similar effects to those of the solar panelfloat 10 according to the first example can be obtained in spite of asimple configuration.

The present invention has been described with reference to the examples.However, it is to be noted that the technical scope of the presentinvention is not limited to the scope of the examples described. Itshould be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modificationsor improvements may be made in the examples. It will be obvious from theclaims set forth below that the technical scope of the present inventionincludes examples incorporating such modifications or improvements.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A solar panel float connected membercomprising: a plurality of rectangular solar panels floats mutuallyconnected adjacent to each other; and a rectangular solar panel mountedon each of the floats and having transverse sides and sides shorter thanthe transverse sides, wherein the solar panels are disposed adjacent toeach other via the sides shorter than the transverse sides and adjacentto each other having a gap via the transverse sides thereof, and the gapof the solar panels on the floats is formed as a passageway portion. 2.The solar panel float connected member according to claim 1, wherein thepassageway portion is formed as a protrusion extending beyond at leastone of the transverse sides of the solar panels of the floats.
 3. Thesolar panel float connected member according to claim 1, wherein thefloats are connected to other floats on the sides shorter than thetransverse sides of the solar panel via a connector member over thepassageway portion.
 4. The solar panel float connected member accordingto claim 3, wherein the connector member includes a hollow portion. 5.The solar panel float connected member according to claim 3, wherein theconnector member has a thickness such that at least a part of theconnector member is submerged when the float is floated on water.
 6. Thesolar panel float connected member according to claim 4, wherein theconnector member has a thickness such that at least a part of theconnector member is submerged when the float is floated on water.